Three lesser known cricketers who were more than playing

There are three cricketers from three different eras whose lives have been more than cricket and who have lost a significant part of their cricket careers because they did something they believed was right.

These are their stories.

Charles Studd

One of the most famous poems of the Ashes is Studd. The name Studd was famous in English circles and the three brothers made this grade Sir John Edward Keynston, George (GB) and Charles (City) Stude became famous cricketers in their time. CT and his brother George toured Australia in the 1882-83 series, first known as the Ashes. Studd has played a total of five Tests and has been remembered forever in the Ashes.

However, Stude retired shortly after the tour because he felt God’s call for missionary work. Serving China, India, and later the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Stad served his God with passion. He died in the Congo, fulfilling his personal mission,

“Only one life will soon be past, only what has been done for Christ will last,” he wrote.

Headley Variety

Headley Variety was a left-handed orthodox bowler for England in the 1930s. Variety bowled at almost medium speeds, delivering the ball faster than a normal spin bowler. Instead of spinning the ball, Variety took wickets through his perfect bowling and there was quite a bit on the wet pitch.

His first international tour was the infamous Bodyline series in 1931-32. Despite the success of the fast bowlers using bodyline tactics, Variety took 11 wickets on its own and quickly had the second-best bowling average behind Harold Larwood. On the next tour he achieved great success for England.

However, Variety had already seen that Europe was on the brink of war, so in 1937 he began reading military literature and began training with Green Howard. When the war started, Variety was enlisted and was assigned as a second lieutenant. Variety’s unit traveled extensively during the war and spent some time in India, where his health deteriorated.

Variety’s unit discovered that they would be part of an Allied offensive in Sicily. During a fierce battle, Variety directs his platoon to a German outpost during a night raid when he is stabbed in the chest. Left behind and captured by the Germans, he was sent to Italy for surgery. He later died of his injuries in Italy and was buried with full military honors. Variety missed the last few years of his career for England but joined his country and died doing what he believed.

Henry Olonga

The word ‘brave’ must be a summary of Henry Olonger’s career. One of Zimbabwe’s fastest bowlers, Olonga led Zimbabwe’s offensive line for several years.

Olonga was born in Zambia but moved to Bulawayo, Zimbabwe early in life. While attending a prep school, he played for the school and the Zimbabwe national school cricket team. In 1995, at the age of 18, Olonga was selected to play a Test match for Zimbabwe. Thus, Olonga became the first black cricketer to represent Zimbabwe. With no ball to throw in the Tests, Olonga rebuilt his action with the help of Dennis Lilly and returned to the national team shortly thereafter.

Olonga has also played ODIs for Zimbabwe, with the smaller format encouraging him to bowl as fast as possible. He took three wickets against India in the last over of a match in the 1999 World Cup, giving Zimbabwe their first win against India. However, for most of his career, Olonga has never been far from controversial.

During the 2003 World Cup, Olonga and Andy Flower wore black armbands for the duration of the cup. They issued a statement condemning the human rights abuses of then-dictator Robert Mugabe in Zimbabwe. While the rest of the world praised their position, Zimbabwe rejected both of them and treated Olonga harshly. He was expelled from his cricket club and was branded a “traitor”. Olanga was even issued an arrest warrant for treason!

Nowadays, Henry Olonga has built a career as a cricket commentator and singer. He has appeared in shows like this Voice And All Star Talent Show. Olonga’s stance against her nation’s racism and violence may have cost her dearly, but her stance against racism and human rights abuses has never been forgotten.